Touched By An Ancient

By Ann3

Writer's note - I was hoping to get a couple of chapters updated this week, but Real Life has this annoying tendency to interfere ! And I'm back at work from next week, so the updates may take a little bit longer in coming. Thanks for bearing with me, and for the reviews !

Okay, on with the show...

Chapter Five

"Och, Rodney, you daft bugger, you – you don't have to do this…"

Swallowing hard, shaking his head in silent sympathy, Carson then turned to meet Melia's eyes – his own holding a flare of uncharacteristic anger as he nodded towards the small console beside them.

"Is that why you've brought me here, Melia…? To teach us both some kind of cosmic lesson…?"

She'd clearly been expecting that anger, since her smile was forgivingly gentle as she shook her head.

"Such cruelty is not our way, Carson. This is simply part of the journey which you both must share…"

It was good to see the anger leave his eyes as rapidly as it had appeared – especially since it was replaced by such charming contrition.

"Aye, lass… sorry, I should have known that…" he said at last, clearly thinking more had to be said – so grateful when Melia's gentle squeeze on his hand conveyed both forgiveness and understanding. That didn't stop his sigh of relief, though, as a wave of a delicate hand blanked the screen beside him. He was feeling unsettled enough already, without watching McKay suffer this familiar, mental hell.

Already bonded to his thoughts, Melia squeezed his hand again, offering both apology and comfort.

"You are safe here, Carson. And we will send you back to Atlantis, once you have…"

"Completed my journey… aye, lass, I know…" Carson replied softly, his smile thankfully stronger – curiosity returning to his eyes as, still hand in hand, they walked on through shafts of ethereal light. "You – You keep mentioning this journey, Melia, that we're both now taking together, and… and… well, I'm sorry, lass, but I still don't understand why I'm on it... or Rodney now, come to that, and…"

"That is because you have only been travelling it for a short time, Carson…" Melia told him gently. "And I know that it is a journey which you are still… reluctant… to take…"

"Only because I get the bloody jitters around things I don't understand…" Wincing slightly at his choice of words, Carson then offered her one of his most heartmelting smiles. "That – That doesn't include you, love… I – I mean, I don't feel that way now, while I'm with you… in fact… well, I – I know this must sound crazy, but – but I feel I've known you my whole life, and…"

He was stammering badly again, feeling ridiculously like the tongue-tied teenager he'd once been. The affectionate understanding in Melia's smile only served to make his cheeks burn even hotter. God, what he wouldn't give right now for some good old Scottish fresh air to clear his mind. He'd skip the traditional weather, of course, but some familiar scenery would be a real tonic right now.

Right on cue, his surroundings swirled in a haze around him, making his addled mind spin even more. By the time it settled down again, a miraculous journey through time and distance was complete – causing his mouth to drop open, his eyes instantly dampen, as memory rushed back to overwhelm him.

In the thirty years since he'd last been here, the majestic beauty of Glencoe hadn't changed a bit.

He'd changed, though. The happily carefree little boy he'd been then had changed beyond recognition. And it had all started here, right here, during that final, most poignant of happy family holidays.

"I – I was here, as a wee boy, when – when I found out my father was dying…" he finally whispered – struggling to hold onto his emotions as Melia smiled and nodded in foreknowledged sympathy.

"Yes, Carson, I know. That is why I brought you here. It is where your journey to destiny began…"

Not trusting himself to speak, too lost in memories now to even try, Carson just nodded absently – his eyes drifting back towards the sky again, where he knew he'd find his father's comforting smile.

"Can – Can I stay here a while…? Just a wee while, so I – I can just remember…?" he asked at last – so very grateful for the gentle compassion which drifted so comfortingly through his heartbroken mind

"We will stay for as long as you wish, Carson. As your journey began here, so will it end…"

Across another measureless distance of time and dimension, Dr Kate Buchanan's mouth dropped open The face in front of her was as still and tranquil as ever, the depthless blue eyes still firmly closed. It was recognition of what had seeped out from beneath them, though, which now held her spellbound.

Moved by pure instinct to gently wipe those tears from Carson's cheeks, she then thumbed her headset

"Dr Weir…? Colonel Sheppard…? I think you'd both better get down to the Infirmary…"